ROBERTS CO-SPONSORS LEGISLATION FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT LIMITING RAISES IN COLLEGE TUITION

State Representative Jay Roberts (R) of Ocilla has co-sponsored legislation which, if passed, would allow a Constitutional Amendment to be placed on the ballot and decided by voters in Georgia.  House Resolution 383 is a proposed Constitutional Amendment which would not allow tuition to increase more than the rate of inflation.  This would apply to any institution within the University System of Georgia.

Rep. Roberts stated, “Keeping the costs of higher education down and providing opportunities for people to attend college continues to be of great importance.  Limiting the tuition increases to not exceed the rate of inflation benefits the citizens in our state. Higher education and the costs associated with attending is a priority to many people throughout the state, whether it is for yourself, family members or children, or even friends."

With the current budgetary situation, all state departments and agencies have had to reduce their budgets so the state continues to have a balanced budget.  The same is true for the University System of Georgia.  The General Assembly determines the budget; however, the legislators are not in charge of how the funding, or increases or reductions in their budgets, is allocated.  It is an unfair burden for the majority of the budget reductions to be unfairly passed on to the students by hiking tuition and this legislation would address this, should it become an issue. 

Rep. Roberts represents Irwin and Telfair counties, in addition to portions of Ben Hill, Jeff Davis, Tift, and Wheeler Counties in the Georgia General Assembly.